Holi! My name is Lyra, I'm a teacher and a writer of nonsense, and I love meeting new people while traveling:) I've been teaching English at schools in the Galápagos Islands and in Medellín, Colombia for the last year and a half, and I can almost bachata without looking like my hip is dislocating. I love Latin America and have backpacked through most of it, and I'm really passionate about good grassroot community development and activism, specifically related to gender issues. I also really love the outdoors and marine life, and I get really, really excited about manta rays and hammerhead sharks.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To get to know new people and perspectives from all over the world, and to break down xenophobia and the idea of boundaries and nation states through good conversations and friendships developed between strangers over drinks.

Interests

I'm really passionate about trekking, kayaking, outdoor sports, camping, horseback riding, really anything outdoors. I also love the arts, and I spend a lot of time doing absurd abstract paintings and dancing. Really just love traveling, writing, and meeting people and hearing their stories.

• arts
• writing
• photography
• dancing
• cooking
• vegetarian
• yoga
• drinking
• traveling
• painting
• backpacking
• surfing

Music, Movies, and Books

Impossible question. Some of my favorites are The God of Small Things, One Hundred Years of Solitude, La Casa de los Espiritus, The Awakening, Jitterbug Perfume, and Harry Potter, of course.

Alt-J, Andrew Bird, Beirut, the XX, Frightened Rabbit, the Tallest Man on Earth, Jarabe de Palo, Calle 13

Movies...anything with David Attenborough's voice.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I performed all of Michael Jackson's Thriller on top of the Thorung-La Pass in Nepal at 15,800 feet for two minutes before I fell over due to oxygen deprivation.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach Ecuadorian folkloric dance and some good vegetarian dishes!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'll cook you a vegetarian dinner and buy you a bottle of wine:) If you have musical instruments, I'm also always down for jam sessions sin expectations. Otherwise, good company for storytelling!

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Bolivia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Mexico, Nepal, Nicaragua, Peru, Uruguay

Countries I’ve Lived In

Colombia, Ecuador, India